Frequently Asked Questions About franchising

Spherion offers one franchise model, also called our commercial or general staffing model.

The general staffing model is available in many mid-sized cities and towns as well as some more rural areas. As a Spherion general staffing franchise owner, you'll primarily support light industrial and administrative positions and, in some markets, professional staffing and recruiting as well.

Commercial market geographies are typically defined by counties, either a single county or multiple counties. You'll provide temporary, temporary-to-hire, and permanent placement staffing services. Commercial office locations are most commonly located in a strip-type shopping center that is anchored by a high-traffic tenant like a grocery store or bank. This market model always starts with one office, though multiple offices may ultimately be desired or needed to provide full coverage of the assigned territory. 

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The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Spherion Commercial franchise ranges from $211,725 - $423,925. This includes an upfront franchise fee of $30,090 to $60,100 (depending on market size) that must be paid to Spherion or its affiliates.

Spherion does not offer financing for new owners. New owners use personal savings, credit lines, home equity, ROBS, or more traditional lending sources for start up capital. If you are considering owning a Spherion franchise, we suggest that you contact your bank and look into the many non-traditional lending sources that are available. Please do an online search for franchise funding for additional information.

Spherion offers a 25% discount for potential franchise owners who have at least five years of experience in the staffing and recruiting industry as well as for military veterans.

We are currently waiving the entire franchise fee for employees of Randstad-affiliated companies who have been employed with the company for three or more years. This is a value of up to $60,000! In addition, Spherion offers a $10,000 referral bonus to Spherion or Randstad employees who bring other qualified franchisees into our network.

Please ask to review Item 5 of our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for complete information about discounts.

If you have any questions about financing, please contact us and we can see what options we can help you with.

One of the biggest advantages of owning a Spherion franchise is that we take care of the most expensive—and often most stressful—part of running a staffing business: payroll. Spherion fronts the cash for your temporary employee payroll every week, then handles all the federal, state, and local tax filings that come with it. We also manage invoicing and collections, so you’re not chasing down payments or juggling cash flow. That means you can keep your focus where it really matters—building relationships, growing your client base, and creating more opportunities for people in your community.

Yes. You will operate in a defined, protected Spherion territory defined by county or ZIP codes. Spherion emphasizes collaboration over competition when it comes to expanding our national footprint and supporting our franchise owners.

The initial term for a Spherion Staffing franchise is 10 years. A typical renewal term is five years.

Yes! Your success—as well as ours—is tied to your growth and profitability. Organic growth can be a great way to achieve that. Almost half (more than 45%) of our current franchisees have more than one office. Many markets offer the opportunity for multiple offices, and you also may have the opportunity to purchase additional territory outside of your existing Spherion market. 

We support smart, thoughtful growth based on a proven track record of success. Our franchise owners work with their busness coach to map out plans for future expansion and the revenue growth needed to support that. 

Spherion sets new franchise owners up for success with a structured 380-hour onboarding training curriculum consisting of web-based, call-based, and in-person learning. That is followed up with on-site training for two weeks by both our field-based sales VP and operational managers.

Once the new franchise owners open their location, we have monthly calls and learning sessions and multiple field-based classes annually.  

We also maintain an online learning site for continuous training opportunities and tech updates. Finally, Spherion leans on a third party for external sales training support.

Spherion is committed to the learning and success of our franchise owners. Our training and learning programs are unmatched in the industry.

You will receive operational guidance from the Spherion Support Team and various departments within our corporate office. Once you onbaord with Spherion, you will be assigned a Senior Vice President, or portfolio manager, to be your one-to-one business coach and go-to point of contact for operational guidance. This SVP is familiar with all facets of the business and will help you throughout your tenure as a franchisee.

We also have a call center and a technical service desk that provide support in their respective areas. Our intranet site is a robust tool that is full of reference materials, presentations, marketing materials, and other information to help run your franchise business.

Spherion is a staffing and recruiting leader that has been franchising for seven decades. We began as City Cars Unloaders in Chicago, Illinois in 1946. Over the next decade, City Car Unloaders diversified into a labor agency with specializations in several industries. The company began offering franchises in 1958. 

While our staffing agency network has gone by many names including Interim, Personnel Pool, TempForce, and AccuStaff, through the decades Spherion Staffing has remained passionate about its core mission: driving careers, growing businesses, and bettering the communities we call home.

Today, we're part of the world's most equitable and specialized talent company, Randstad, with $26 billion in annual revenue worldwide. But our focus remains local: Our recruiters are committed to building relationships with active and passive job seekers in their communities in service of matching them with the perfect role. Meanwhile, our business development managers and franchises are passionate about helping local, regional, and national businesses develop and carry out staffing strategies that help them achieve their organizational goals. 

In short, Spherion draws from national and global resources to put the power of local to work for you.

The financial opportunity speaks for itself. Our average annual sales per franchisee in 2024 reached $5.6 million—a testament to the earning potential within Spherion's time-tested business model. While your individual results will depend on your efforts, your team's dedication, your particular market dynamics, and local competition, Spherion's corporate team provides comprehensive support designed to give you the best possible chance at financial success.

Our system has a proven track record that goes beyond numbers on a page. Real franchisees are building substantial businesses and achieving financial milestones that transform their lives and secure their futures. The recurring revenue model means you're not starting from zero each month—you're building momentum that compounds over time as you develop deeper client relationships and expand your candidate network.

Hear directly from those who've benefited financially from Spherion franchise ownership. Watch our current franchisees share their stories about the financial achievements Spherion has enabled—from building generational wealth to taking care of family to providing a great life for their children. These aren't hypothetical scenarios; they're real outcomes from franchise owners who committed to the system and executed with excellence.

If you'd like more specific details about your options and potential income as a Spherion franchisee, contact your franchise development liaison. We'll connect you directly with Spherion franchisees who can speak candidly about their experiences in our community and what it really takes to succeed.

We hear from potential franchisees all the time that what drew them to research franchising with Spherion is not just what other franchises also offer - increased earning potential and hte hance to be your own boss - but a culture of mutual, collaborative support and a focus on doing business right. Spherion is: 

A Brand Built on Trust and Recognition: Spherion brings decades of brand equity to the table—a name that both clients and candidates already know and respect. This instant credibility opens doors that newer or lesser-known competitors struggle to access. You're not building brand awareness from scratch; you're leveraging a reputation for quality and reliability that's been cultivated over years in the industry.

A Franchise with Comprehensive Training and Technology Support: With more than 380 hours of online and in-person training, Spherion ensures you're thoroughly prepared to navigate every aspect of the staffing business. This isn't a quick orientation—it's an immersive education covering sales strategies, compliance requirements, operations management, and relationship building. Combined with robust technology platforms and professional marketing support, you have enterprise-level capabilities at your fingertips without the cost and complexity of building them yourself.

A Company with Long-Term Financial Potential with Community Impact: The staffing industry rewards those who build strong, lasting relationships, and Spherion's model is designed for sustainable financial success. With our average annual sales per franchisee reaching $5.6 million in 2024, the system demonstrates real earning potential. What truly sets Spherion apart is our genuine focus on bettering the communities we serve—connecting people with meaningful employment opportunities that change lives and strengthening local businesses with the talent they need to thrive. This community-centered approach creates deeper relationships while giving you the satisfaction of knowing your business makes a real difference where you live and work.

Staffing is an attractive franchise opportunity because of its strong, consistent demand and recurring revenue model. Businesses of all sizes need flexible workforce solutions for temporary coverage, seasonal peaks, or specialized projects, creating steady demand across economic cycles. Unlike one-time sales businesses, staffing generates ongoing revenue as long as placed workers remain on assignment, providing you with more predictable cash flow.

The staffing and recruiting industry also offers significant advantages in terms of scalability and diversity. Compared to retail or food franchises, staffing businesses require lower overhead—no expensive inventory, large physical locations, or costly equipment. You can serve multiple industries like manufacturing, healthcare, or warehouse operations, and offer different staffing types from temporary to direct placement, creating multiple revenue streams that diversify your income sources.

Spherion provides crucial support with the complexities of payroll, workers' comp, compliance, and regulations that would be challenging to navigate independently. Success in running a staffing franchise comes from building strong client and candidate relationships. These relationships create customer loyalty once established. our recruiters are experts at building friendly, authentic relationships with local candidates who they genuinely care about. The growing gig economy and trend toward flexible work arrangements continue to expand the market, making Spherion Staffing a solid franchise model for entrepreneurs with strong sales skills.

As a franchise owner, you become the face of the company and the source of employment opportunities that enable the people and businesses in your community to grow. Giving back by investing time, funds, and effort into our communities is at the core of Spherion's company values. Sponsoring a little league team, giving back to local charities and supporting the people and organizations with time and expertise in your community make a difference. This comitment to investing in where we live and do business is what sets Spherion franchisees apart from their corporate competition.

Have experience in the staffing industry, whether as a recruiter, salesperson, or manager. 

Know how to successfully grow a sales-based business.

Be a resident and a hands-on business owner in your community.

Participate in our training sessions, meetings, and opportunities.

Go the extra mile for your customers and employees. Service excellence sets Spherion apart from our competition, and it starts with the local franchise owner.

Finally, have fun! Get involved in your community and build brand awareness by participating in community events, clubs, and your local chamber.

Staffing is a relationship-based business, and it begins with you!

As a local Spherion franchise owner, you'll have an entire corporate marketing team working as an extension of your business—producing targeted marketing campaigns, sales prospecting programs, and professional brand advertising designed to help you capture market share and build brand awareness in your territory. Spherion's sales and marketing support isn't generic, one-size-fits-all; our marketing professionals work directly with you to understand your unique market dynamics, competitive landscape, and growth objectives.

Your dedicated marketing team becomes a true partner in customizing campaigns that resonate with your local audience, managing your social media presence to engage both clients and candidates, developing advertising that cuts through the noise, and orchestrating public relations initiatives that position you as the staffing expert in your community. Whether you're launching a targeted campaign to break into a specific industry vertical, promoting a seasonal hiring initiative, or building relationships with key business leaders, you have experienced marketing professionals collaborating with you every step of the way.

Beyond the corporate support, you maintain the flexibility to amplify your presence through local investments in high-impact channels like billboards, radio advertising, sponsorships, and other mass media options that make sense for your market. This combination of professional corporate marketing expertise and local market autonomy gives you the best of both worlds—the sophisticated resources of a national brand with the ability to make strategic decisions that reflect your on-the-ground knowledge and entrepreneurial vision.

In staffing, no two days look the same—and that’s what makes it exciting. One minute you’re meeting candidates who are ready for their next career move, the next you’re talking with business owners about how to solve their hiring challenges. You’re constantly connecting people and opportunities, helping companies grow and helping individuals find meaningful work.

You’ll spend your days building relationships—checking in with clients, following up with candidates, and making sure everyone’s happy with their match. Some of your time goes to the business side—managing operations, reviewing financials—but Spherion’s systems take care of a lot of that.

What really drives your success is people. If you like getting to know what makes a job seeker or a business come alive, solving problems, and becoming a trusted partner in your community, franchising with Spherion Staffing will be a perfect fit for your professional ambition.

Absolutely! Our franchisees are happy to talk with you and share their experience. Contact Dan Brunell at the email or phone number below, and he can connect you with current Spherion franchise owners. 

What shold you ask them? We recommend starting with these questions.

In the meantime, meet some of our current franchisees and read what made them want to join the Spherion franchise community.